wayneharada.com

Since the pandemic lockdown of 2020, much has happened to Streetlight Cadence. The music foursome whose artistry has Hawaiian roots will be back onstage this week for a gig at Blue Note Hawaii (6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday Aug. 21).

For starters: After a six-year residency in Los Angeles, they’ve split – that is to say, two of the guys (Jesse Shiroma, accordionist, and Brian Webb, cellist) now live in Honolulu, while the other two (Ben Chai, guitarist and drummer, in Houston, and Jonathon Franklin, violinist, in Los Angeles) now are mainlanders.

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“COVID-19 changed everything,” said Franklin. “For the first time in our history, we didn’t have any gigs. Our tours were cancelled, our income was gone, and we decided to spend our time closer to our families. We’re at a point in our career that the tours – when they happen again –fly us all in from all over the country. This tour back to Oahu is hopefully the restart of all that we have been missing.”

“We made a lot of friends and really had some awesome experiences in L.A.,” said Chai. “But the pandemic gave us some time to think about how we would grow in the future – and geographically, it helps to have multiple home bases when you’re mostly touring.”

We conducted an email interview with Franklin and Chai, and curiously but not surprisingly, the ongoing coronavirus issues have influenced and altered the way the Streetlighters operate and survive, the pair said. On a grand scale, the multi-city residency format is a combination of social distancing and virtual planning, which has some pros and some cons.

Indeed, the cadence has changed for the combo that brought delight and joy to early fans that enjoyed their street harmonies. Hence, the Streetlight Cadence name.

“There’s clearly some advantages and disadvantages to working remotely,” said Franklin. “There’s more planning and organization required, but it has given us a new level of freedom and technical proficiency in production and recording since that is the only way to communicate our new music ideas while we’re apart.”

Said Chai:“We’ve always been pretty good at delegating, and honestly it just makes it so much nicer when we do get to be together in the same room.”

The splintered residency also meant that Streetlight Cadence – and its alt-folk-pop musical strokes – had to modify and enlarge plans with expansive traveling and tours.

“We are aiming bigger than ever,” said Franklin. “Before, we could all drive to 90 per cent of our gigs in L.A. Now every gig needs to justify flying at least half of us across the ocean. Bigger shows, bigger events, bigger tours and tighter schedules are the new way to play. So we’re going big.”

The template to relaunch includes a new booking agent, Ed Keane and Associates, with visions of jumpstarting performances at festivals, performing arts centers and nightclubs when the marketplace welcomes back such activities.

Of course, the plan mandates prioritizing and focusing. “We’re now more focused than ever on creating a solid and spectacular experience for anyone who comes to our shows,” said Chai. “If you buy a ticket to see us, you deserve a great concert. We make the most of our time together, and work during our time apart to ensure the best use of that time.”

Other Streetlight thoughts:

• Health concerns govern how they do their gigs.”We are all hyper health-conscious these days,” said Franklin. “Our health and the health of our fans take priority over us performing live; when there’s a chance (to perform with health protocols), we jump at the opportunity.”
• Down time activities – “Ben’s learning the banjo,” said Franklin. “Brian is starting a solo project. And I’ve been on an extended surf trip up the West Coast.” Said Chai: “Jesse’s really dived deep into the world of vinyl, and his musical knowledge and depth really just amazes me,”
• Family ties – “Ben had his second child during the pandemic,” said Franklin. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have support at home and we’re looking forward to traveling with new members of the band.” Said Chai: “I did have a second child haha! Our families really hold down the fort when we’re on the road – but I can’t wait to have a ‘family bus’ come with us someday!”
• Less is more – With roots in busking, here and elsewhere, Streetlight Cadence has reduced but not eliminated street singing. “Street performing is now just something we do for fun to connect with our fans or for our own nostalgia,” said Franklin. “I will say I saw a street performer a few weeks ago, and I was overwhelmed with emotion. I’m gonna guess there are many who miss live music as much as I do.”

And that’s Show Biz. …

With the hope that the lingering pandemic protocols will ease or dissipate by this fall, some of Hawaii’s theatrical organizations are tweaking policies, anticipating the best and perhaps kind of a return to normalcy. This, despite current reactions from a state health official who deems the CORONA-19 virus outbreak “a crisis.”

At Manoa Valley Theatre, season subscribers and single-ticket purchases will have reserved seats for the first time during the 2021-2022 theatrical season, beginning in the fall. Playgoers must wear face masks and must show evidence of vaccination. Seating will be “normal,” meaning pre-pandemic, without spacing between seats. “Be More Chill,” a Hawaii premiere, kicks off the new season Sept. 2.

At Diamond Head Theatre, all seats will be open for purchase – no empty seats and alternating spaces in each row – with “normal” full-houses anticipated. Face masks and proof of vaccinations will be required. DHT’s season launches Sept. 24, with “Oliver.”

Both aforementioned theater groups hope that with vaxxed patrons donning face masks throughout a performance, they’ll be OK under current protocols minus the social distancing open seats. Sure hope so; image the train wreck, if sold seats have to be socially distanced.

Elsewhere, there are variations of how the fall theater season will play out.  For instance:

• Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s season, which kicked off Aug. 9, will be a mix of live performances for school audiences and the public, but will involve flexibility with virtual performances for some productions.
• Kumu Kahua Theatre also will mix live with virtual staging. “#Haoleboyfriend” debuts Sept. 14 as a virtual production, along with the second show, “The Kasha of Kaimuki” Oct. 28, but the third event, “The Conversion of Ka‘ahumanu,” will be live, beginning Jan. 20.
• The Actors Group opens Aug. 27 with an all-live season at the Brad Powell Theatre at Dole Cannery.
• Kennedy Theatre will unveil its first show, “He Leo Aloha,” in the Hawaiian language, in early October, but closes its season with a second part later in the year

Smooth as silk

The Silk Sonic collaboration has a new wrinkle: investments outside of music.

Anderson .Paak, who partners with Bruno Mars as the newest hot vocal duo, has ventured into the world of restaurants.

Californian .Paak has invested into Taisho, a Japanese restaurant, in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

He posted an online photo of himself, with this caption: “The boy done invested his #silksonic money in the best sushi in town! The foodies are calling it ‘BUSSIN!!’ Come see for yourself!

While former Honolulan Mars does not have a stake – not yet, anyway – in a restaurant, he has his own sideline biz: he is one of the owners of Selva Rey Rum.

No arrival date of Silk Sonic’s first album, which already has become sizzling chart-topping singles: “Leave the Door Open” and “Skate.”

Birthday mahalo

Have had an overwhelming round of birthday wishes the past few days, and most notably, some folks can’t perceive my turning 80. Because I’m a Facebooker and also post stuff on my own website, I don’t commonly get to see words of aloha on other sites, so I thank my buddy Loretta Ables Sayre, who shares Instagram and Twitter items about me, like this one from her “South Pacific” co-star on Broadway, Matthew Morrison.

Saw him in the show with Loretta at Lincoln Center, and caught his Hawaii Theatre show before the pandemic shut down everything. And had an opportunity to share my Wild Cards creations with the remarkable Broadway singer-actor. So sharing his communication a few days back. ..

And that’s Show Biz. …